What the worst F1 car of 1994 had in common with Schumacher's Benetton

As Benetton won its first F1 world championship with Michael Schumacher in 1994, the backmarker Pacific team was regularly failing to qualify with a car that shared the same heritage. Both teams were running a design based on the failed Reynard F1 project, which aimed to get on the grid for 1992. When that didn’t come off, the design was first taken to Benetton for that season, and two years later it appeared again as the Pacific, with very different levels of success.

[@finnflash23]

I freaking loved that 1994 Pacific, and also the 1995 version! Nice to see you nowadays making videos about all these forgotten teams of the past, most of the fans today have probably never heard of or already forgotten about Pacific. And yes, the Benetton also looked spectacular, as did most of the F1 cars from 90's! :D

[@persezyra]

I think Delatraz son races in f2 only reason to remember pacific tbf. "What the hell is Delatraz doing"

[@JT-ko2ib]

Seen this '95 Pacific on a Top Trumps card I've had from the '90s. Never heard of it apart from that, or realised how bad it was. Oh well.

[@PavlosLepaul]

So that's why Williams copying Mercedes not worked

[@Al3xisAE]

Pavlos Lepaul everyone copies everyone

[@maximiliannguyen1162]

Racing Point copied Mercedes and got deducted 15 points

[@CGIPadawan]

@@maximiliannguyen1162 The big difference at Racing Point is Andrew Green. Look him up. He's a pretty strong designer in his own right, but the difference is this time he got one peek at the "Answer Key" and now it's like he has all the right answers. Racing Point's upgrade at Mugello is proof positive that understanding the design and iterating away from it is the best part of copying it.

[@F1ll1nTh3Blanks]

Imagine not having a wind tunnel program in your team today. 🤣 Oh wait, Williams. 😔

[@nemorinoeso7581]

Simtek had no wind tunnel program too that year, they depended on computer simulations. Simtek=Simulation Technology

[@jacoblunn29]

Williams does tho, they have 2 right now

[@samacw]

Williams owned their own wind tunnel in the 90s

[@nelsonphillips]

Virgin tried it with Nick Wirth and his simulation company. That didn't go well either, Nick said that they were almost there though....... maybe. Williams has just undergone a major recruitment drive so you may need to wait another couple of years for that to work its way through.....

[@nelsonphillips]

@Liam07 Sauber! oh boy, not quite....

[@omarashry007]

1994: Benetton and Pacific 2019: Ferrari and Haas

[@arjancrazy2314]

You mean 1994:Benetton and Pacific and 1995 Ligier

[@joshuagabrielcatindig7607]

At least Haas isn't a backmarker...

[@arjancrazy2314]

@@joshuagabrielcatindig7607 Haas is the backmarker of three Ferrari teams lol

[@omarashry007]

@@joshuagabrielcatindig7607 yes, but its been over half the season and they don't understand their car yet or rather, their cars.

[@Jimmy-lm2eg]

You mean Mercedes and Williams.

[@abdelsahraoui168]

Pat Symmonds about Mercedes Copy Lawrence Stroll : "Hold my beer"

[@ab8jeh]

Short wheelbase. That's why these cars look better than today's longboats.

[@r4nd7r04d5]

In your opinion

[@PaDDy7389]

True. F1 cars today are longer than a Mercedes S-Class, even the BMW M8 GTE is smaller!

[@TheLeggera]

I don't watch F1 so when I saw a 2019 car for the first time I was shocked how ugly the side profile was

[@maxbrennan8221]

today's cars look cool, but are just too big! I miss small cars like this era and the beginning of the hybrid era (2014 noses excluded of course)

[@TinyBearTim]

All we need is the new regulationdesign with design elements of the 80s cars

[@pbfamous07]

crushing content, absolutely brilliant.

[@HigherPlainGames]

Pacific also had woeful reliability from their gearbox across the 3 years. The 95 car was actually much better but just never made it home and had little development. Both beautiful liveries though.

[@letsbuilda4ort]

The greatest days. Cars sponsored by booze and cigs. V12 engines.... Old Chasis and roaring engines draw tears of nostalgia.

[@F1god04]

The Pacific was a really beautiful car. The livery looked amazing and the design was at least aesthetically pleasing. Slow, but pleasing to the eye.

[@DomDOMT]

"Not everyone can copy merc" Force Stroll, 'OK.'

[@smokingspitfire1197]

Am I the only one who likes the idea of the more teams and cars than slots on the grid. Making it a challenge to even get there

[@TOFKAS01]

I would prefer a bigger grid in general.

[@a_willthethrill]

That would certainly make qualifying more exciting

[@alvinchan7746]

and make a big indycar style crash to create the worlds largest motorsport funeral. yeah i like that idea a lot! (இωஇ )

[@TOFKAS01]

@@alvinchan7746Well, Formula 1 could easily have two or three more teams.

[@R9naldo]

The horrific hybrid engines we have now means thats impossible. F1 doesn't seem worth it for most engine suppliers

[@atmarambhide]

@2:25 Racing Point just proved him wrong lol

[@DaniMacYo]

Schuperb! Schumacher! 🏎🏁🏆👊

[@dxfifa]

Best car was the williams, schumi just was that good.

[@jordanstriker1656]

What's the difference between Benetton and Pacific? 🏁🏆 Schumacher 🏁🏆

[@gabrielwhite3890]

@Jonathan Bowen no because you don't know so i guess you can just sweep that under the rug thanks fia

[@jordanstriker1656]

@Jonathan Bowen If you think Schumacher needed traction control to win then you need help

[@gabrielwhite3890]

@Jonathan Bowen Im being sarcastic of course benneton cheated

[@MacGovernor]

They had the TC only on Schumi's car, though. That's why his teammates' results were so piss-poor.

[@gtpliquid1290]

Putting aside the illegal TCS systems which were proven to be onboard the car's ECU, it is quite clear that Schumacher's talent went quite some way to the B194's success. Verstappen and Lehto were both well off the pace in the sister car, compared to Herbert in 1995 who was at least inside the top 6.

[@SilverScarletSpider]

Over two decades later and I’m still hearing the name Schumacher everywhere. I might be going mad 😂

[@Yoshiman2024]

2:15 This quote would be proven correct a few months after this video released lol! Literally even!

[@patmaher9435]

These types of videos are great, I am an F1 fanatic and never knew about this so its a terrific insight for nerds like me :)

[@AndresGrimace]

It's good to know the lines that bonds all those brands from back then till today.

[@matthewthomas2546]

But did Pacific have traction control as Well?

[@mickeynismocat]

I always thought when i was young that they looked so similar!

[@bobbyunavailable]

It's a pretty car, the Pacific, at least from the front.

[@fivedotsdave9723]

Michael was the only driver who could handle the hard to control Benetton......

[@theuser698]

JJ Letho Johnny Herbert could handle benneton but for Letho he get bad injury for Herberthe race just 2

[@JT-ko2ib]

3:12 "winning on its debut..." Shows car on the grass?

[@f1matt]

That Bennetton is a beauty

[@thezackseven]

In 94 FIA found illegal software in their ECU's which allowed them to use launch and traction control, Benneton was not penalized as the FIA only managed to reverse engineer the code after the season completed. Therefore Micheal Schumacher won his first championship by cheating using an illegal F1 car.

[@Henrix1998]

0:40 phone ringing in the background?

[@danger2bananas]

I did love the 94 colours of Pacific

[@psk5746]

Is this really true? And how much of the Reynard remained? Nah, not the same car though. Pacific used F3000 parts. From en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynard_Motorsport: The company started preparing a Formula 1 program in 1989, to debut in 1992. Engineers were hired, such as Rory Byrne from Benetton. In 1991, Reynard was not able to push through, so the entire program, including the Enstone factory, was sold to Benetton. Reynard's research data was sold to Ligier. Some Reynard components (mostly F3000-based) were used by Keith Wiggins' Pacific Racing in their unsuccessful F1 car (built for the 1993 season, but not raced until 1994 for budgetary reasons).

[@broedyfield2180]

worst car was the one that killed senna, end of story. someone fucked up that day or someone in engineering, something that kills someone in a season is the worst.

[@froreyfire]

The car wasn't terrible, but a single part was. Someone made a terrible decision that day when they modified the steering column and welded it together in a way that was too weak and broke during the race. And BTW, you could say the same about the cars that killed Clark, Rindt, and so many others.

[@dollyhefzy5195]

Who ever sees this Wish you the best luck 😉

[@rian95official]

Thank you

[@TOFKAS01]

If the Pacific was a design from 1992 then it wouldnt have worked much better if it would have raced already in that year. The laptimes Pacific made wouldnt have given them much better places two years earlier. They still would qualify for the back of the grid.

[@marioleone3005]

Very interesting...sort of similar to Simtek which I thought was using an old Nick Wirth commissioned design for BMW!

[@TOFKAS01]

As far as I know they used the project from the failed Andrea Moda team of 1991.

[@Bala1991100]

Just imagine Benetton winning the 1994 championship with a budget of 45 million dollars/year! 😂

[@jacoblunn29]

And maybe a lil TCS

[@jstoli996c4s]

Different era, that was 25 years ago already! Plus Schumacher driving and most likely traction control.

[@johncoughlan1777]

Yeah it's unbelievable how well Schumacher did in the 90's vs bespoke better funded Adrian Newey designed cars. The guu was untouchable.

[@clansome]

@@johncoughlan1777 Ironically the era of F1 I like the least as there were so many driver aids back then. Much prefer the era about 10 - 15 years prior.

[@pgr3290]

Traction/launch control, ignoring black flags, illegal fuelling equipment, purposefully crashing into your rival to prevent them from winning after your broke your own car.... God knows what else they got up to. Big book of dirty tricks, author: Flavio Briatore

[@legoferrari14]

2:16 Well *that* comment aged well.

[@Holanduzo]

0:33 the Arnold of f1

[@mark4lev]

I think advanced composites derby made the tub for this and never got paid. Nearly sent them under.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Very cool video.

[@vedranpevec4483]

Williams is using JCB windtunnel for aerotesting.

[@arjancrazy2314]

They forgot another copy in 1995 Ligier JS41 is the same

[@qasimmir7117]

It didn’t cheat?🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

[@josephshuman4972]

Where do you get the photos from?

[@jstoli996c4s]

I have no idea why Reynard tried its hand at F1 to begin with, and then tried again with that swindler Craig Pollock with BAR 🤦‍♂️

[@jann1k_MSC47]

Benetton B194 😍👑

[@gtpliquid1290]

How is Reynard still the leaseholder on Mercedes-AMG's factory? Reynard went bankrupt when the team was still BAR. Surely the creditors would have taken such a valuable asset in the bankruptcy hearing?

[@chrisdavidson911]

i think the video has this bit wrong, everything got sold off, bar bought the buildings amongst a few other things

[@purwantiallan5089]

Pacific 1994 = Williams 2019

[@DaisysButler]

of course, another major advantage for the 1994 Benetton over the Pacific car was the use of traction control, illegal refuelling systems, etc...

[@shadowraith1]

Interesting back story.👍🏎🏎👍

[@Stug9680]

This car was crappy but very cool to see. I like the design and the deco.

[@fuzzyjaeger9739]

If only Pacific PR01 had the traction control mapping of the Benetton B194.. 😄😆

[@SpaceHCowboy]

Launch control??

[@christoduplessis8177]

I won a drivers and constructors championship with Pacific in GP2. What a boss 😋

[@cosmicrayabsorber]

Fookin ay man can I get your autograph?

[@abualifah82]

1:15 wow, floody more than sepang

[@MrMcKane]

The only reason Pacific started those 7 GP's in 1994 is because after the crashes at imola and monaco, Williams, Simtek and Sauber didn't have a second car running for some races, giving Pacific a number of start they would never have earned on pace.

[@Cmoney82-m1j]

Several times when Gachot was 26th on friday, he dropped out on saturday. And when he had technical issues on friday, it was raining on saturday. I remember atleast Silverstone when he did decent times in practice to beat Simteks. At Suzuka every chance to beat Inoues Simtek time but it rained on saturday and same happened in Adelaide where he was quicker than Deletraz and Schiattarella. His own summing it up: "For the last five Grands Prix I have qualified on the Friday only to have someone go quicker on the Saturday when I hoped it would rain. This time I didn't qualify on Friday, but on Saturday morning I have set a reasonable time which gave me hope to qualify. And then it rains. When things are not going your way, nothing works for you."

[@p_adam19]

I wonder how much today's Williams' design is going to worth in three years' time lol

[@Reso205]

You also forgot that the Benetton had ILLEGAL traction controle

[@car-Stan835]

95?

[@lucasbailey8878]

They had launch control, not traction control

[@dimitrisqwerty]

Same engine?

[@The_Curious_Cat]

So basically Reinhard made Schumacher a champion and also made what Mercedes is now because superior car! (I´m trying to come up with my own crazy theories on how Hamilton has no merit in all of this, so please, indulge me lol)

[@cosmicrayabsorber]

I agree

[@Peasmouldia]

Difference is the Pacific didn't have illegal launch/traction control like the Beneton.

[@brianglennon3452]

Tracing point gone wrong

[@ovt8454]

Wow. Both Seb and Schumacher won their first title with number 5 on their car. Amazing !!!

[@DJ-Ophidian]

So did Mansell in 1992, Fittipaldi in 1974, Piquet 1981 and 1983. Probably more from before I remember. Pretty good number.

[@nsp6590]

@@DJ-Ophidian Alonso won his first title with the number 5 as well. I was thinking that Kimi did too in 2007 but he actually had the number 6 while Massa used the number 5.

[@DJ-Ophidian]

@@nsp6590 Ah, how'd I forget Alonso? One I looked up was Rosberg '82, but that was number 6 as well.

[@tonykartracer8032]

I thought the 'MTV' car was the worse car.

[@belislemathieu2061]

Was it Roland Ratzenberger driving the Pacific?

[@nemorinoeso7581]

No, he drove for Simtek.

[@ohwhatthenoob]

Pacific race seats were filled by illustrious drivers Paul Belmondo, Bertrand Gachot, Giovanni Lavaggi and Andrea Montermini. And don't forget Jean-Denis Delétraz, who famously provoked the words "And what is Delétraz doing?" from BBC commentator Murray Walker, after making strange sideway movements while being lapped by the leaders in the 1995 European Grand Prix.

[@fafiteee]

@@ohwhatthenoob is the deletraz guy related to the deletraz racing in f2?

[@ohwhatthenoob]

Thomas Chester Pabalan yes, father and son.

[@jstoli996c4s]

Simtek. David Brabham drove for Simtek too on that nightmare weekend at Imola 1994.

[@GurinderSingh-uh6tv]

Difference schuey

[@bwxmoto]

0:57 I see a flying saucer 🛸

[@TheRobloxervideos]

What, traction control?

[@syak_wasangka]

I wonder if Williams used this design for this season 🤣

[@samiraperi467]

Benetton's high nose? Wasn't it actually Tyrrell that started the high nose trend?

[@Skulldetta]

While Tyrrell was the one who originally came up with the design, they later on switched back to a conventional design. Benetton on the other hand switched a high nose in 1991 and never went back. They set the example that led to all other teams having made the switch by mid-1996.

[@Zero_Ninety]

I was they hadn't. The high nose cars were ugly.

[@justahuman8373]

Pacific: can I copy your homework? Benneton: Yes but change it up a bit so it isn't obvious that you copied Pacific:

[@PLANDerLinde99]

No that would be Benneton asking Reynard. Then Pacific would be yet another derivation

[@arjancrazy2314]

@@PLANDerLinde99 and Benetton gives Ligier homework for the JS41 in 1995 lol

[@Bala1991100]

[ Insert your anti-Schumacher comment here! ]

[@psk5746]

Need more space please

[@Zero_Ninety]

[Insert mindless Schumacher fanboy comment here]

[@ungurdani8346]

Salut my friend super car super video subscribe subscribe.

[@geert574]

Briatore is a straight up mobster

[@jaroslavchnurik8783]

"British team Pacific made a step up from F3000 to F1..." - and I thought it only went to F4. Good for them, skipping 2999 tiers straight to the top.

[@hollohullu9448]

You realise F3000 was the equivalent of F2 at the time?

[@jeremyjohnson8844]

@@hollohullu9448 you realize the man was joking?

[@hollohullu9448]

@@jeremyjohnson8844 now i look again i don't know how i missed the joke

[@VonBlade]

I remember the B194 as the one with totally illegal traction control. Hey ho.

[@lucasbailey8878]

The B194 did not have traction control, it had launch control which are 2 completely different things.

[@mark4lev]

@@lucasbailey8878watch Adrian’s video on it. Schu was fast because he was left foot braking. With refuelling he could drive as fast as he wanted. In fact he was so fast in ‘94 the fia had to slow him down

[@lucasbailey8878]

@@mark4lev The FIA did everything in their power to penalize Michael for dumb crap, like Silverstone for instance. I’m glad he won in 1994.

[@lukas_jay243]

Ahh the good old Benetton cheat car.

[@rnichol22]

Will be forever remembered as the car Schumacher cheated his way to the 94 championship.

[@Zero_Ninety]

Was just about to type this.

[@TrickyMario7654]

Haha, someone's still salty 25 years later!

[@rnichol22]

@@TrickyMario7654 Absolutely, Micheal Schumacher was one of the biggest cheats in F1. To say he's one of the greats is simply laughable. And for any in doubt he then tried the same thing in 97. Yes very Salty

[@TrickyMario7654]

rikster 111110 Senna cheated too by crashing Prost off at Japan in 1990, and don’t use Japan 1989 as an excuse.

[@rnichol22]

@@TrickyMario7654 Yup he did indeed, Senna should have been banned for life for that move, not sure why I can't mention Japan 89, but I agree there is no excuse for what he did. I don't understand why such great drivers feel they have to do this crap. Though Senna I rate higher than Schumacher.

[@mustsilm]

both had 4 wheels

[@mzamroni]

banana nose era

[@ciaronsmith4995]

What absurd videos. Show some videos about F1 mechanical features. Tyres. Downforce. Driving Styles. Not this random garbage.

[@buzzingggg6619]

Hi

[@zanjurenec]

5th!

[@_Uncle_D]

first !

[@bobz7745]

100👍=1👎

[@apexholland7427]

first lol